Deep oil well pump



Sept. 1 1-, 1934. ol s. PROCTOR DEEP OIL WELL PUMP Filed Feb. l2. 1952 /Nvf/vf 5. M

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, Patented Sept..11, 1934 t UNITED ,sTA'Tsg My invention relates primarilyto improvements in pumps or fluid handling devices, and more particularly to those devices adapted to deep' oil well work, and ithas -for its prime object the provision of` economical means for raising uid from great depths., Y

Another object is to provide means Aof the above character for increasing the velocity of the flow of iluid by converting a portion of the liquid-to Vgas and thus increasing the Avolume and reducing the specific gravity. i

Another vobject is to. providepositive means to `control or, induce the flow offliquid intothe pump for conversion into gas by heat.

l5 Another object is to providemeans of supplyring heat intermittently, whereby the `liquid is caused to flow into the pump, when the heat is cut 01T, by the cooling and contracting of gas in the compression chamber, andcaused to ow 2O out ofthe compression chamber and to the surf face by the expansion Vandy generation of gas, when the heat is on,by suitably arranged check valves,. electricv heating-.apparatus and current control, v

, Another object is toprovidein mechanism of the Aabove character .means whereby the excess pressure fromthe wellmay be exhaustedto atmosphere or may be used to assist in inducing the flow of fluid into the pump to be heated.

-In the operation offmechanicalpumps at great depth, many difliculties are encountered, such as maintaining tight joints around the moving parts. The transmission of `powerthrough a pump rod is cumbersome, expensive, and impractical in crooked holes. The passing of oil and water through small openings, suchfas the pumpvalves,`

under great pressure or .velocity isdifcult and very inefficient. l i I Itis thepurpose of this,.,invention to overcome these difficulties by employing a pump or compression chamber, of suitable capacity, to which heat, preferably electric, is applied intermittently so as to reducethe specic gravity and hydraulic pressure and at the same time increase the velocity and flow. `On reaching the surface, the :duid is trapped out and the gases therein condensed or conducted down into the Well to be used in assisting the flow of the liquid upwardly or conduct it to atmosphere if desired or found necessary.` ,A

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter, and while I have shown andwill describe the vpreferred ,form of my invention, it will be understood that I do not-limit myself to such preferred form, but that various changes .well casing 1in the'upper end of which I4 provide v24a of suitable resistance wire or the like.

and adaptations may be made therein' without departing from thespirit of `m'y invention.

In the 4drawingfaccoin'panying yand forming a part hereofz i i.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of myfdevice installed inawell. 1

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged fragmentary details of portions of `my-device'.` l Referring to the fdrawing, 5 indicates the usual 5 an annular'ring"6,provided with a concentric `opening 7 therein'. lSupported on the upper end vof thefring 6, butinsul'ated therefrom by insulation 8, isl a cap 9, yprovided' witha downwardly depending central portion 10, and secured to this central portion to dependdownwardly therefrom is al tubing 11, the lower end of which is closed, except at vthe center where'` itr is provided with an inlet opening 12. Normallyof cap 9 is an openingv14, and mounted in this opening isa sleeve ll5, suitable insulation v16 being-providedI by the said Vcap and sleeve 'to' preventelectrical r,Contact therebetween. Mounted in the sleevefl is the flow pipe ,'17v

which depends downwardlytherefrom.' The flow pipe 17 is made up of a'plrality of Jsections,'tl1e abutting `ends of which are connected by suitable couplings 18,v and provided within these couplings in the upper end of eacho`f the sections are upwardly opening check valves 19.` Each of these vsections'with its check valve acts as a station or stage 20 kfor the fluidduring its upward ow, vas

hereafterexplained.v- I 'i Suspended within thetubing'll, vt'o surround theofiow pipe 1'7, isa 'tube 21,*thef1ipper end of 90 which isclosed by'a fitting 2,and the lower end Ofvwhich' is closedbya 'spacer 23.- f 7 f Provided on the outer periphery of `tube 2l, at the lower end thereof, 'are a fpluralityof `contact Vngers 24, the object of. iivl'nchfisA to provide elec- 95 trical contact between the -housing tube '21 ,and tube,11.lf

Wound aroundv` each ofthe sections-of fthe flow pipe 17 at the lower end!l thereof are yheating coils 100 Connected to the upper end of the flow pipel'l, resting upon and supported by the sleeve A15, is an elbow 25; the other'or'o'utlet end lof which is 4connected by an `insulation pipe26,to a tank 27. Tank 27 is connected by a pipev 28to asultable storage means (not shown). y

Provided in the cap 9, near V,the inner faceof the tube 11, is an aperture 29, and mounted at its lower end in this aperture is a cylindrical housing 3o. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this cy- 1'10 lindrical housing 30 is provided near its upper end with an outwardly extending projection 31 in which is provided an interiorly screw threaded recess 32 adapted for connection to the outer end of a pipe 33, the other end of which pipe is con'- nected to the tank 27, near the upper end thereof.

The inner end of the recess 32 is connected by a port 34 to the pistonv chamber 35 of the housing 30. Extending through the wall of housing 30, in the opposite wall thereof, and above the port 34, is an outlet 36 which connects the interior of housing 30v to atmosphere as hereafter explained. Slidably mounted in the chamber 35 is a piston 37 provided with an upwardly projecting stem 38 which stem projects through an aperture 39 in a closure cap 40, positioned on the upper end of housing 30, suitable packing 41 and packing gland 42 being provided to provide anair-tight joint around stem 38.

The piston 37 is substantially hollow and is open at the bottom, and extending through the side wall of said piston, in opposite relation, are openings 43 and 44, opening 431 being adapted to register with the port 34, and opening 44 being adapted to register with passage 36 during the operation vof my device, as will hereafter be more fully explained.

Pivotally connected to the upper end of the stem 38 is one end of aunk-45,; The other end of the link 45 is pivotally mounted in a bearing46 extending upwardly fromlpipe 33. Depending downwardlyfrom link 45, about centrally of its length, is a boss 47, and mounted upon the lower face yof `this boss, butinsulated therefrom, is a contact plate, 48.v Extending upwardly from pipe 33, in vertical alignment with the boss 47 is a boss 49, upon the-upper end of which is mounted, but insulated therefrom, a contact.

plate 50, these plates 48 and 50 being sopositioned andfspaced as to be broughtinto contact or separated duringthe verticalmovement of the link 45. A'l'heycontact plate 48 is connected by Wire 51`tofone sideof ageneratoror othersource of electrical energy 52. Contact plate 50 is connected by a wire 53 to an elbow 25. The other side of generator 52 is connected by a wire 54 to .er 59. Plunger 59 is provided with a head Y60,

which head is slidablypositioned within'the inner end of the recess 56,. Mounted within recess 56, between head l6,0 and the innerend of screw 57, is a coil spring 61 which, acts to norma1lyprojectplunger 59 inwardly. Y

. A recess `62 is provided in the side wall of piston v37 and is adapted for the reception of the pron jecting end of the plunger 59, whereby the downward movement of piston'37 will be retarded. A coil spring 63 is mounted within chamber 35, between the upper end of piston 37pand the closure cap40.v y, l

. In theoperation of my device, the piston will bef'initially in the position shownv in Figs. 2 and 3, permitting the link 45 to descend andmake contactbetween contact'plates 48 and 50. The

current will then flow from ythe generator through Wire 51 and the contacts 48 and 50, wire 53 into theelbowf25, thence down theflow pipe 17 ener'.-

.valves 19, this expansion must take place upwardly, thereby causing an upward movement of the fluid.

The stations next below the surface will blow through upwardly first, due to the fact that Athere is no resistance thereabove, then the next lower ones will blow in successively until the gas in the compression chamber blows through into the flow pipe carrying liquid with it. As the pressure;` increases, due to the heating, part of the gas will flow upwardly through the housing 30 and force piston 37 upwardly breaking the connection between apertures 43 and passage 34, and making'connection between aperture 44 and aperture 36, permitting the excess pressure to escape to atmosphere and at the same time elevating link 45, thus breaking contactbetween plates 48 and 50, when the ow of current to the heating coils is cut off.

i As the piston 37 is elevated, the plunger 59 will be projectedv into the recess' 62, in the side of piston 37 andfhold said-piston in its elevated position until the pressure in the compression chamberV is sufficiently vlowered to permit the spring 63 oo overco'me the combined 'resistance of said pressure and the springv 56 when said spring'will force piston 37 downwardly, forcing the plunger 59 outof the recess 62, until aperture 43 again registers with passage 34.

f When'the flow ceases, there is still some liquid and gas in each station and the cooling and contractingrof this gas draws gas upfrom each succeeding lower station; excepting at the bottom'station whereliquid flows in instead.

As the-piston 37 returns to its initial lower or starting point, contact is made between plates .48. and 50 and the' heating coilsare again 'energized, thus repeating the performance justA explained and at the same time the gas'in tank 27 `which has previously been drawn fromthe well, will pass throughk pipe`33, aperture-34 and opening 43 intothehousing 30 and down into the compression-expansion chamber'lla; thus assisting in creating a pressure upon the iluid in said compression-expansion chamber 11a, asrsisting in forcing the same into the flow pipe. Obviously'adjustmentof the springs 56 and 63 provides 'means to control operation under a wide range of conditions. They opening 64 in pipe 65 provides for mixing gas with liquid, so that when once started, the operation may be continuous, as a blower. 'K

' Having described my invention, what I claim isk valve in the bottom wall of said expansion chamsaid tank to the f a p air of contact ber, a closure for the upper end of said expansion tube, a connection from the upper end of i upper end Aof said expansion chamber,a piston in said last connection adapted tion from oneside of said/electricV circuitto `one of `"said contact plates', aA connection `from the other4 of said contact. plates tothe upper yend of said Ilow pipe, a connection from said 'cilO-u sure to 'the other side of said electric circuit,

heating coils surrounding a portion of saidflow pipe at the lower ends of the lsections thereof,

` and connections from said heating coils =to said y insulating tube to said expansion chamber walls.

.ed within said well casing, but 25v `2. A deep well pump comprisinginl combina.-

`tion a wellcasing, an annulus surrounding .the

upper end of said casing, a closure supported vupon the upper end ofsaid annulus, butV insulated' therefrom, an expansion .chamber mountconcentric therewith, spaced therefrom, a ow pipe projecting down into said expansion chamber, concentric there-l with', but' spaced therefrom,.and terminating at a distance from the bottom wall thereof and gether by coupling sleeves, an upwardly opening check valve at the upper end of each of said sections, an insulated tube surrounding said flow pipe, insulated therefrom, but concentric therewith, a heating coil surrounding each of said flow pipe sections at the lower ends thereof, insulated therefrom, a connection from one end of each of said coils to said iiow pipe, a connection from the other end of each-of said coils to said insulating tube, connections from said insulating tube to the wall of said expansion chamber, a connection from said ow pipe to a storage receptacle, a connection from the upper lend of said expansion chamber to the upper end of said storage tank, a, piston valve mounted lin said last connection adapted to control the passage of fluid therethrough adapted to connect the upper end of said expansion chamber to said tank or to atmosphere, a source of electrical energy, a connection from one side of said source of energy to said flow pipe, a switch controlling said last connection, means operable by said piston for opening and closing said last connection and a connection from saidv closure to the other side of said source of energy.

3. In a deep well pump including a casing, a ow pipe projecting down into the well casing concentric therewith and arranged to form a series of superposed stations, means to confine `fluid flowing through said flow pipe to a path of upward movement only, a connection from the upper end of said ow pipe to a storage tank, insulated therefrom,

rounding said ilow pipe, an upwardly opening check valve in the bottom wall of .said expansion y chamber, a connection from the upper end oi said tank to the upper end of said expansion chamber, a source of electric energy, a plurality of heating coils coiled around saidlow pipe, there being one coil at each of said stations, aV connection from said source of energy to one side of said coils, a connection from the other side of said coils to the other side of said source of energy, and means operated by fluid pressure in said expansion cham- `ber for intermittently opening and closing said electric circuit, substantially as described.

4. In a deep well oil pump comprising a ow contactplates to the r`a connection-,from said closure tothe other` side 4chamber walls. formed of a plurality of sections connected to- ,one end of each of said coils coils to said tube housing,

an expansion chamber surpipeprojecting down into the well casing and formed of a .seriesuof separable sections yconnected vtogether by coupling sleeves at ypredetermined locations, ,valves at, theinner section for the upperend o f said expansion tube, a con.-A l nection from the `upper vend of said tank tothe .upper end of said expansion chamber, a piston .in` said last connectionedapted to connectthe expansion chamber to atmosphere, a pairof contact plates, means operablebysaid .piston for moving said contact towards, or` away from each l other, an electric circuit, .a connection from one side of said electriccircuit to rone .of said contactV plates, a connection from the. other of said upper end of said ow pipe,

Aof said electriccircuit, heating coils surrounding a portion 0f said ow pipe at the lower ends of the sections thereof, and connections from saidfheat- 1 ing coils to said insulating tubetosaid expansion 5, A deep Well Ipump comprising in combination a well casing, an annulus surrounding .the upper end of said casing, a `closure supported 1 upon the upper end of said annulus, but insulated. therefrom, an expansion chamber mounted within said well casing, concentric therewith, but spaced therefrom, a flow pipe projecting down into said expansion chamber, concentric there 1 with, but spaced therefrom, and terminating at a distance from the bottom wall thereof and formed of a plurality of sections connected together by coupling sleeves, and upwardly opening check valves at the upper end of each ofsaid sec- 1 tions, a tube housingsurrounding said flow pipe, insulated therefrom, a heating coil surrounding each of said ow pipe sections at the lower ends thereof, insulated therefrom, a connection from to said flow pipe, 1 a connection from the other end of each of said connections from said tube housing to the wall of said expansion chamber, a connection from said ow pipe to a storage receptacle, a `connection from the upper end of said expansion chamber to the upper end of said storage tank, a piston valve mounted in said last connection adapted to control the passage of fluid therethrough adapted tovconnect the upper end of said expansion chamber to said tank or to atmosphere, a source of electrical energy, a connection from one side of said source of energy to said flow pipe, a switch controlling said last connection, means operable by said piston for` opening and closing said last connection and a connection from said closure to the other side of said source of energy.

6. A deep well pump comprising a ow pipe projecting down into the well casing andforming a series of superposed booster stations, the valves 1 in said stations limiting the ow of ui'd therethrough to an upward direction only, an insulated connection from the upper end of said iiow pipe to a storage tank, an impervious tube surrounding said now pipe, insulated therefrom, an expansion `of said expansion chamber, heating coils sur` rounding said ow pipe at the boosterstations therein, connections from one side of said heating coils to ground, a connection from the other side of said heating'coils to a source of electric n energy, a'c'ircuit breaker in last connection and means operable bythe fluid pressure in said expansion chamber lfor `alternately lopening and closing said circuit breakers.`

7. A deep well pump comprising` in combina tion a well casing, 'an'annulus surrounding; the j upper endv of s'aid casing, a Closure supported on the upper -endl of said annulus, but insulated therefrom, a flow pipeprojecting `into said well casing, an insulating tube surrounding said ilow pipe, an expansion chamber surrounding said last tube Aand saidow pipe and insulated therefrom, a plurality of stations formed in said flow pipe, means in said stations to limit the flow of -uid therethrough to an upward direction, heating coils wound around said flow'pipe at each of said booster stations, a source of electric energy, connectionsfrom one side of said source' 8, In a well pump comprising va well casing, a` flow pipe mountednin said casing, an electrical conductor attached to said new pipe so that electrical current may be caused to flow through said flow pipe, electrical resistance windingconnected to said flow pipe wound around said 110W pipe with insulation between the winding and the flow pipe, a ground connection to the outer covering whereby the circuit is completed, a check valve in said ilow pipe permitting fluid now upward and a'suitable source' of electrical current.

9. In a well pump comprisinga well casing, a flow pipe mounted in said well casing, an electrica-If conductor attached to said flow pipe so that electrical cuiirent may be caused to now through vsaid now pipe, electrical resistance windingconnected-to said flow pipe wound around said'flow pipe witliinsulation between the winding and the'flow pipe, a ground connection to the outer covering whereby the circuit is completed, a check valve in said flow pipe permitting fluid ilow upward, a compression chamber surrounding said flow pipe providedl with inlet check 'valve and'ajsuitable source of'electrical current.

OLIN s. PROCZTOR." 

